Seattle Reign FCSEA

Portland Thorns FCPOR

Jodie Taylor’s 89th minute goal gives Reign 1-0 win over Thorns

The Reign are now 6-3-5

BY Jacqueline Purdy June 30, 2018
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Jodie Taylor scored in the 89th minute on an assist from Megan Rapinoe as Seattle Reign FC beat Portland Thorns FC 1-0 in the second Cascadia clash of the season. For the first time ever, the Reign lead the Cascadia all-time series — they are now 8-7-3 all-time vs. the Thorns.

The win moves Seattle back into second-place in the NWSL with a 6-3-5 record. Their 23 points are 13 points behind first-place North Carolina, though Seattle does have one game in hand. The Thorns dropped to 5-5-5 with 20 points and into fifth place.

Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch made eight saves on the night, several spectacular, but could do nothing about Taylor’s game-winner. Rapinoe dribbled to the end line, going once again 1v1 with Thorns defender Ellie Carpenter as they had for much of the night. Rapinoe sent a low pas into the center of the box, finding Taylor open to tap it in for the game-winning goal.

Just two minutes earlier, Franch made a leaping grab when Rapinoe — as she did earlier this season in Seattle — tried to send a chip to the upper-right hand corner. Franch had a read on it the whole way, and snagged it out of the air, catching it with both hands and not giving up a rebound.

In her first start of the season, Thorns forward Hayley Raso had three strong opportunities to give Portland a go-ahead goal earlier in the match. Her closest effort came in the 62nd minute. Thorns midfielder Lindsey Horan collected the ball on a throw in, then turned and crossed it perfectly to the head of a wide-open Raso in the box, but her shot went just over the crossbar.

Rapinoe led both sides with six total shots, two of which were on goal. She also recorded three chances created, according to Opta.

The Reign defense was largely able to limit the touches of Horan and Christine Sinclair, who were so dangerous vs. Sky Blue FC on Wednesday night. Neither were able to get a shot on target, but Horan finished with three chances created. Sinclair had one.

The Thorns were held without a shot on goal. The Reign took 18 total shots to the Thorns’ 10, as well as besting them in shots on goal 9-0. Seattle also had the better of possession, 58.6% to 41.4%.

Lauren Barnes returned to the starting line-up, after missing the last two games with a concussion, and registered six interceptions. She also became the second player in NWSL history to pass the 10,000 regular season minutes mark.

Midge Purce earned her first minutes for the Thorns since spraining her ankle earlier this month at U.S. women’s national team training camp. The Thorns were without Tobin Heath (right ankle injury) and Emily Menges (hip pain).

The game was rather physical, with the Reign conceding 12 fouls and the Thorns six. Both sides earned a yellow card.

The Thorns will next be in action on Friday at home vs. Utah Royals FC. The Reign will welcome the Dash to town on Saturday night.